HARRISONBURG, Va. — After nearly five months of work, a Harrisonburg artists’ vision has become a permanent part of the Friendly City.

A brand-new mural by Laura Thompson was officially unveiled Wednesday during a dedication ceremony at the MODdisplays building downtown.

Mural artist Laura Thompson speaks during an unveiling ceremony on August 30. (Photo: Caleb Peek/WSVA)

Thompson’s artistic style involves painting a fitting background underneath photographs cut out of old magazines. However, she told WSVA that she was in uncharted territory with a piece this large – over a thousand square feet in size.

Thompson said she hopes this mural leads to more work down the road.

It was paid for by the Public Art Forward grant through the Arts Council of the Valley, which provides 15-thousand dollars per year to fund public art projects through 2025.